B15 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line
7/7
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line11.8M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
41%4.8M49%
0.9%109k42%
0.7%80k40%
0.5%59k45%
0.2%29k38%
0.1%9.5k44%
0%4.7k41%
Famous games in this line30k master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2775) – Carlsen, Magnus (2870)Carlsen, Magnus (2864) – Morozevich, Alexander (2760)Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – So, Wesley (2770)Kasparov, Garry (2847) – Anand, Viswanathan (2753)Svidler, P. (2756) – Carlsen, M. (2839)Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792) – Ding Liren (2799)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Duda, Jan Krzysztof · Caruana, Fabiano · Nepomniachtchi, I..
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B15
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4
Solid
★ Read the guide: Caro-Kann DefenseExplore all 110 Caro-Kann Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov VariationB17 4…Nd7 · 6 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Finnish VariationB16 4…h6Caro-Kann Defense: Classical VariationB18 4…Bf5 · 7 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern VariationB17 4…Nd7 5.Ng5 · 2 deeper lines
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Named for Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann in the 1880s, the Caro-Kann became the fortress of positional world champions — Capablanca, Petrosian, Karpov. Its promise: Black gets the French's solidity WITHOUT burying the light-squared bishop. Slow, sound, and infuriating to attack.
Study this opening